MADISON, Wis. - The ice was a bit chippy, the sun was pretty bright, but it was a lot of fun.

The Wisconsin men's and women's hockey teams hit the ice surface in Camp Randall Stadium for the first time Wednesday afternoon in preparation for the Culver's Camp Randall Hockey Classic. The women went on the ice first, preparing for their day game, while the men skated under the lights for most of practice.

The excitement was eminent as the women's hockey team put on layers under their gear and black strips for under their eyes to reduce the glare of the sun. Many of the players rushed from the locker room to hit the ice 20 minutes before the scheduled 3 p.m. practice time.

For first-timers like Kyla Sanders and Kelly Nash, who grew up in Fort Myers, Fla., and Bonita, Calif., respectively, they couldn't believe it was actually happening.

For their first practice, the team soaked in the outdoor feeling and got used to the way the puck bounced.